Today’s Yahrtzeits & History – 11 Iyar

-Rav Naftali Tzvi of Ropshitz, author of Ayalah Sheluchah and Zera Kodesh, (1760-1827). When R’ Naftali decided to join the chassidic movement he chose Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk as his mentor. He subsequently became a dedicated chasid of the Chozeh of Lublin, the Maggid of Koznitz, and Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rymanov. Foremost among his talmidim is Rav Chaim of Sanz. His son, Rav Yaakov, was the author of the sefer Zerah Yaakov.

-Rav Aaron Pfeffer, rav in South Africa

-Rav Yitzchak of Radwill, son of Rav Yechiel Michel, the Zlotchover Maggid (1832)

Today in History – 11 Iyar

· The first printed edition of Mishnayos with Rambam’s commentary was published in Naples, 1492.
· 1,500 Hebrew books and manuscripts were seized in Frankfort, Germany, 1510.
· The Judenordnung provided for the abolition of discriminatory laws enacted against the Jews of Galicia, Austria, 1789.
· Anti-Jewish riots broke out in Wasilkow and Konotop, Russia, 1881.
· The famous Tolmatsky Synagogue of Warsaw was dynamited by order of General Jurgen Stroop, 1943. It marked the last German “major operation” in the liquidation of the Warsaw ghetto uprising.
· The Syrian army, which had advanced to Deganya, was halted and repulsed, 1948. The defeat of the Syrians was Israel’s first significant victory in the 1948 war.